Beholding Christ in All His Glory

 “For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭66‬:‭18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “I despise their evil works and their thoughts,” says YAHWEH. “The time is coming for me to gather people together from all over the world, and they will come and gaze on my radiance.”  The works, thoughts and imagination of fallen humanity can be compared to the “mark (character) of the beast” on the hands (works) and the foreheads (thoughts, mind-sets) of people. As John the beloved disciple saw of the beast and the fallen humanity, “It performed great miracle-signs, even publicly causing fire to fall out of heaven to the earth. And through these startling miracles that he performed on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the world, telling the people to erect a statue in the image of the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet lived. The beast from the earth was empowered to breathe life into the image of the first beast so that it could speak and kill those who refused to worship its image. It also caused everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and bound, to be marked on the right hand or on the forehead. This meant no one could buy or sell unless they had the mark; that is, the name of the beast or its number. This will require wisdom to understand: Let the one with insight interpret the number of the wild beast, for it is humanity’s number —666.”  We thank our God for Pentecost and the birth of the Church, the community of God’s chosen from every nation and tongue, whose focus is the risen Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords.  Let’s keep beholding at the radiance and glory of our Lord Jesus.  Amen!

The Glorious Treasure Within Believers in Christ

 “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation, “For God, Who said, “Let brilliant Light shine out of darkness,” is the One Who has cascaded His Light into us—the brilliant dawning Light of the glorious knowledge of God as we gaze into the face of Jesus Christ.” Paul helps us understand that “light” is both literal and a metaphor for spiritual revelation, and shows that the creation narrative provides us with an allegory pointing to the experience of the new birth in Christ when we come in the face-to-face Presence of Christ.  That’s how Isaiah prophesied, “Those who walked in darkness have seen a radiant Light shining upon them. They once lived in the shadows of death, but now a glorious Light has dawned!”  We are like common clay jars that carry this glorious Treasure within, so that this immeasurable power will be seen as God’s, not ours.” Paul says that we are common clay jars, created from dust, yet we possess the brilliant light of God’s glory, Jesus Christ, and carry Him as Treasure in our being.  The outward vessel is not as important as the glorious Treasure within.  Let’s know our identity in Christ through our new birth, and know that God’s glory is in us.  Amen!

The Victoriously God of Peace Subdued All Things

 “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭65‬:‭25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “The wolf and the lamb will graze side by side, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and the serpent’s food will be dust. There will be neither violence nor murder on my entire holy mountain of Zion,” says YAHWEH.”  Isaiah prophesied how Christ subdued all things.  Man was made from dust.  The serpent feeds on whatever we withhold from God.  The devil’s dining room is the fallen human nature and the mind of the man who is not yielded to God.  Over time, the serpent feeds and grows into the great dragon.  This is what John, the beloved disciple, saw “So the great dragon was thrown down once and for all. He was the serpent, the ancient snake called the devil, and satan, who deceives the whole earth. He was cast down into the earth and his angels along with him.”  As Jesus told us,  “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”  Let the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart be the powerful Word of God.  Amen!

Believers Being Transformed Into Greater Glory

 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation, “We can all draw close to Him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are being transfigured into His very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, Who is the Spirit.” We are being transformed to reflect the glory of God through the renewing of the thoughts of our mind.  The source of our transformation is Christ’s glory and our destination is more glory!  This transforming glory is the result of gazing upon the beauty and splendour of Jesus Christ.  It is based on the triumph of Christ over every power of darkness and it diffuses the fragrant aroma of Christ everywhere.  This transforming glory never waters down the Word of God and produces living letters of Christ.  It is not based on the clever abilities of men but God’s empowering Presence in us, imparting Life flowing from the Holy Spirit.  Christ’s righteousness is continually imparted to us containing the greater glory than from the law, bringing the transfiguration of believers into greater levels of glory.  Hallelujah!

Enjoying our Personal Relationship with our Lord Jesus

 “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭64‬:‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “These amazing things had never been heard of before; You did things never dreamed of! No one perceived Your greatness. No eye has ever seen a God like You, Who intervenes for those who wait and long for You!”  What Isaiah prophesied, John the beloved disciple saw and wrote, “We saw Him with our very own eyes. We gazed upon Him and heard Him speak. Our hands actually touched Him, the One Who was from the beginning, the Living Expression of God. This Life-Giver was made visible and we have seen Him. We testify to this truth: the eternal Life-Giver lived face-to-face with the Father and has now dawned upon us. So we proclaim to you what we have seen and heard about this Life-Giver so that we may share and enjoy this life together. For truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus, the Anointed One. We are writing these things to you because we want to release to you our fullness of joy.”  Our Lord and Master works on behalf of those who wait with trusting anticipation and longing for Him.  As Isaiah said earlier that those who wait upon the LORD renew their strength; they mount up with wings as eagles; they run, and are not weary; they walk, and do not faint.  Let’s be those who enjoy our personal relationship with the Lord.  Amen!

Presenting Ourselves Wholly to God through Christ

 “For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: to the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation, “We have become the unmistakable aroma of the victory of the Anointed One to God —a perfume of life to those being saved and the odor of death to those who are perishing. The unbelievers smell a deadly stench that leads to death, but believers smell the life-giving aroma that leads to abundant life. And who of us can rise to this challenge?”  We are Christ’s sweet fragrance of sacrifice that ascends to God, which is ready to be offered.  Whatever challenges we face, God empowers us to overcome by His Holy Spirit, because He empowers everyone He calls.  To all in the Church who have understood that Jesus was sacrificed on the Cross  for every sin we have committed, then we willingly sacrifice ourselves.  When unbelievers question that God knows everything and is everywhere and why should He judge me with this bad thing to me when I never did anything wrong?  We answer that my God took the judgment of all our sins on the Cross and in return blessed me so much!  Our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies is to surrender ourselves to God to be His sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights His heart. For this becomes our genuine expression of worship.  Amen!

The Majesty of Yeshua through The Cross

 “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭63‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “Who is this coming from the city of Bozrah in Edom? He is dressed in garments of bright scarlet, robed in a garment dyed bright red, marching like a champion in his great power and might. “It is I! I am the one who announces righteousness, I am mighty and ready to save!”  Edom is a part of Jordan today.  Historically, Edom stood against God, and is a variant of Adam.  God triumphs over Adam by the crimson Blood of the Last Adam, Jesus Christ.  Edom typifies the flesh as against the spirit.  Isaiah sees the mystery Man coming on the road from Bozrah to Zion, clothed in crimson garments, having conquered His enemies, not  weary or faint, but He comes in the greatness of His strength.  This is the majestic Yeshua, mighty to save for those who come to Him in faith.  Alone, He conquered sin, death, satan, sickness, fear and the grave.  Isaiah’s focus prophetically is the finished work of Christ’s Cross. As Paul revealed, “Then Jesus made a public spectacle of all the powers and principalities of darkness, stripping away from them every weapon and all their spiritual authority and power to accuse us. And by the power of the Cross, Jesus led them around as prisoners in a procession of triumph. He was not their prisoner; they were His!”  Hallelujah!

God Who Comforts Us

 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation, “All praises belong to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For He is the Father of tender mercy and the God of endless comfort. He always comes alongside us to comfort us in every suffering so that we can come alongside those who are in any painful trial. We can bring them this same comfort that God has poured out upon us.”  Paul straightaway starts his epistle bursting into exuberant praise to God, Who had delivered him from all his painful ordeals.  Tender mercy and compassion originate with God.  As the kind Father Who has compassion on His children, God tenderly cares for each one of us.  When suffering comes our way, the God of mercy sustains us.  His comfort is permanent and endless.  As Micah the prophet said prophesying about the Messiah Jesus, “Who is a merciful God like You? Your grace wipes the slate clean of guilt and pardons the rebellion of the remnant of Your people. You don’t hold your anger against us forever, but You delight in showing faithful, tender love. Once more we ask: have tender mercy on us, tread our iniquities under Your feet, and hurl all our sins to the bottom of the sea.”  Through the mercy of the finished work of the Cross, God’s great comfort came to us.  Thank You, Jesus!

The Church’s Non-stop Intercession

 “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭62‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “Jerusalem, I have stationed intercessors on your walls who will never be silent, day or night. You “reminders” of YAHWEH, take no rest,”. Because of Christ’s finished work on the Cross and us believers being in the new covenant, we take our responsibility seriously to intercede continually to remind God of His promises.  Like divine administrators, we remind God of the promises and appointments He must keep.  In the old covenant there were many priests who were prevented by death from continuing. But Christ, our Great High Priest continues forever, because He has an unchangeable Priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He Who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.  Amen!

Building Disciples Up in Christ

 “Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do. Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭16‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s instruction was, “When Timothy arrives, make sure that he feels at home while he’s with you, for he’s advancing the Lord’s work just as I am. Don’t let anyone disparage or look down on him, but kindly help him on his way with financial support so that he may come back to me, for I am waiting for him and the brothers to return.”  Paul was always building up his disciples especially Timothy whom he called as his son and colleague in ministry.  Paul said that Timothy was Rock-solid in faith, who reminded other disciples of Paul’s specific message and emphasis.  Paul’s specific message was the finished work of the Cross of Christ and he taught the ‘in Christ’ and ‘Christ is in you’ Gospel in every place and every church he visited.  Paul wanted everyone to respect Timothy, not to underrate him, but to honour him by providing for him.  Paul eagerly looked forward to welcoming Timothy and the team back again.  Paul recognised the personal love that Jesus had for him and received it with gratitude and humility, passing it on to his disciples who were actually Jesus’s disciples.  We can learn much from Paul to flow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and to build others up to be strong disciples too.  Amen!